get octave to compile by modifying debian/rules file prefixing ./configure by a F77=/usr/bin/f77_f2c ./configure and also add this line afer ./configure in debian/rules sincemakeinfo is not available and we want to avoid the error when removing uncreated files sed -i -e "s:rm -f INSTALL:cp ../../INSTALL.OCTAVE ./INSTALL:g" -e "s:rm -f BUGS:cp ../../BUGS ./BUGS:g" doc/interpreter/Makefile